The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-21
SHOT DOWN LIKE DOGS.
CONVICTS SHOT FOR REFUSING TO
WORK ON SUNDAY.

Startling Rumor From an Oglethorpe
Camp-Other Charges Made to the
Committee-Warm Times Ahead for
Some One If Reports Are True
Official Changes.
ATLANTA, GA, June 20.-The' special
House Committee TO investigate the convict
system and its alleged abuses, met this af-
ternoon. A full committee were present,
consisting of Messrs. Huff and Schofeld of
Bibb, Hahn of Hall, Harrison of Quitman,
and Terrell of Meriwether The commit
tee did nothing to-day beyond organizing
for business and adjourned to s O'Clock to-
morrow morning to the Senate Chamber,
where they will hold open sessions daily
till they make up their report
Some of the camps have been visited
by the committee at their private
expense and others will be before the Legis-
lature meets. The NEWS reporter learns
tonight that the committee has information
of the gravest character, relating to oc-
currences at some of the camps, which, if
true will startle the State and end in the
early forfeiture of one or more of the les
sees leases. One Of these charges is that on
Sunday, June 5, at the Oglethorpe camp of
j. w. Smith, ex-senator, and one of the
leSsees, twenty convicts under TRUSTEES were
put to work cutting wheat The convicts
refused to obey the TRUSTEES in forcing them
to work on the Sabbath and attempted to
escape. They were fired upon and two
killed. These were buried that night, but
the facts were never reported by the lessee
to the authorities here. Information Of the
matter was conveyed to the members
of the committee a week ago, and it was re-
ported from another source to the principal
keeper ten days ago. Mr. Towers consulted
the Governor about it, but cannot learn
anything yet, and one of the commit
tee has stirred up things, and to-
morrow Mr.. Towers and some of the COM
mittee go to the Oglethorpe camp to
investigate. If the facts are true as stated,
the Governor will forfeit Mr.. Smiths lease
at once. The committee will investigate
charges which the committee propose inveS-
tigating, and if they are not false or exag-
gerated, there are warm timnes ahead for the
leSSeeS.
1t is reported from Washington to-day
that on July Chief Post Office Inspector
Booth will be relieved by the department;
that his resignation has been asked for, to
take effect then. Mr.. Booth is Republi-
can and has held the position some
years. Inspector Simpson, the Democratic
appointee from Tennessee viii be ordered to
take charge Also DR.. William King, reve-
nue. agent, is ordered to report here 10 Reve-
nue. Agent Chapman, in charge of this di
vision On July | Mr.. Chapman is to be
transferred to Virginia and DR.. King is to
take his position here. Mr.. Chap
mans frfd Ads assert that no order has been
received transferring him to Virginia but
that he has been ordered there temporarily
to superintend the reorganization of the
revenue district. Gossip has it that these
latter changes grow out of the recent diff
culties and the present strained relations
between Mr.. Chapman and Collector Cren-
shaw. Private j. j. ODonnell, signal service
observer, has been ordered TO Key West, and
w. w. David, of the Savannah station, has
been ordered here.
COLLECTOR IN TROUBLE.
The additional fl fas issued by the Comp
troller against the late defaulting Tax Col
lector S. J. Dennard, of Wilkinson county,
for S400, the special tax for registered liquor
dealers, were not reported by him to the
Collector, but which, it is claimed, he col
lected the previous fl. fas. for the unac-
counted general tax of 81, ,9l5.
GENERAL MATTERS.
The Covington and Macon railroad made
its first annual return to-day. The property
for taxation of the thirty miles of the road
is valued at S2lS,66l.
H. G.. Hamilton who was appointed Clerk
of the United States District Court, has re-
signed the Office of Clerk of the Superior
Court of Whitfield county.
w. r. Tyler has resigned the Captaincy
of the duBignon Volunteers of Milledge-
vile.
The Atlanta Artillery has made requisi-
ton for 100 rounds of ammunition upon the
Quartermaster. The Sergeant made out an
estimate for 500, but was cut down.
ATLAETA's NEW IDEAS
Tfie Atlanta City Council this afternoon
passed an ordinance refusing to license
bucket shops.